Many absentee ballots already coming in
The election might be almost a month away, but many in Kootenai County have already voted.
The county has shipped out more than 2,100 absentee ballots, nearly as many as in the last presidential election, said County Elections Clerk Dan English. Completed ballots and new requests for absentee ballots are coming in daily, English added.
The county is also seeing growing use of a polling booth set up in the elections office for “in-person” absentee ballot voting.
English attributes the growing popularity of early voting to a desire by voters to simplify lives and avoid lines or last-minute problems on Election Day, Nov. 7.
“Once people try it, they like it,” he said.
Absentee ballots may be returned by mail or filled out at the county election office, at 315 W. Garden Ave. The office is across from the county courthouse.
Ballot stations for in-person absentee voting will also begin Oct. 23 during normal business hours at the city halls in Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum. The county elections office will also be open Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for in-person absentee voting.
To obtain an absentee ballot, voters must first be registered. This can be done at the elections office on the same day as the ballot is cast. To register, citizens must have photo identification and proof of residence. An application form with an original signature must be filled out to receive an absentee ballot. The forms are available online at: www.co.kootenai.id.us/elections/.
– James Hagengruber
SEATTLE
EPA names new regional director
A woman largely unknown to environmental and business groups in Washington has been selected to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office here.
Elin Miller, 46, will serve as regional administrator for the EPA’s Region 10, which includes Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho.
She’s scheduled to start work Oct. 30, taking over from Ron Kreizenbeck, who has served as acting regional administrator since July.
Miller will oversee regional operations on issues from water quality to toxic cleanup and pesticide safety. The agency handles cleanup of polluted sites such as the Duwamish River and the Asarco smelter near Tacoma.
Miller was chief deputy director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. She was appointed by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson in 1995 to head the Department of Conservation, which oversees oil and gas production.
She worked as an executive at Dow Chemical from 1996 to 2004, overseeing public affairs and the global pest-management and Asia Pacific operations, according to an EPA news release.
Miller, who lives in Umpqua, Ore., issued a statement expressing interest in hearing everyone’s opinion.
“The best solutions to difficult challenges are those developed locally and collaboratively, with all parties actively engaged in the process,” she said.
– Associated Press